Apple’s Lightning-only charging case for third-generation AirPods makes no sense

Apple has quietly introduced a new option for its third-generation non-Pro AirPods — a Lightning-only charging case (through MacRumors). On the surface, that’s reasonable: forgoing wireless charging on the second-generation AirPods saved you $40. But this time you only save ten popars: They cost $169, compared to $179 for the MagSafe version (which can also be charged with a Lightning cable).

For those looking to trade convenience for savings, wireless charging used to be a really good option, saving you 20 percent. Now you can just as easily save $10 on third-generation AirPods with two seconds of Googling — the MagSafe versions retail for $169 on both Amazon and Target. If you’re willing to wait, you can probably snag them around the holidays for even less if last year’s deals have anything to offer.

To be clear, I’m not saying this is a completely useless product; if you never use wireless charging and don’t plan to in the future, it’s definitely worth buying the version with the Lightning-only case. But if you want to go that route, don’t settle for just $10 in savings.